Note: Consider using Dunbarton Blue in place of standard blue cheese. It's a blue-veined cheddar from fourth-generation Wisconsin cheesemaker Chris Roelli. It sports the nuttiness of a Parmesan, the pungency of blue cheese, and the crystallization of a good aged cheddar. It's available in some well-stocked cheese stores and online at igourmet.com.

Directions

1.

Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and preheat oven to 400°F. Brush the outside of chicken with olive oil. Season with salt, pepper, thyme and lemon zest. Drizzle with lemon juice. Place chicken in a roasting pan and transfer to the oven to cook, basting periodically.

2.

While chicken cooks, bring a large pot of salted to a boil. Add kale and cook until barely tender but still bright green, about 3 minutes. Drain kale, rinse under cold water, and cut into ribbons. Melt remaining 4 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic cook until softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the kale, heavy cream, onion powder, and pepper flakes. Season with salt and pepper. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 4 minutes. Add Parmesan and cook until cream has reduced and thickened, about 1 minute longer. Cover and keep warm while chicken finishes cooking.

3.

Chicken is done cooking when a thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh registers 175°F, 1 to 1 1/2 hours total. Transfer to a cutting board and allow to rest for 15 minutes. Place roasting pan on stove top over medium-high heat and add wine and stock. Bring to a boil, scraping browned bits off of bottom. Lower heat to a simmer and cook until reduced to 1 cup, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and whisk in remaining 2 tablespoons butter. Taste and adjust seasonings if necessary.

4.

Carve chicken, drizzle with sauce, and sprinkle with hazelnuts and blue cheese. Serve immediately with additional gravy and creamed kale.

Special Equipment

Roasting pan

This Recipe Appears In

Jennifer Olvera is the author of Food Lovers' Guide to Chicago, and she has all-but tested and developed recipes since toddlehood. She writes the Sunday Supper column for Serious Eats and regularly contributes food features to Chicago Sun-Times. She can often be found tending her garden, canning and traveling to far-flung destinations, where she writes about local edibles for pubs like Los Angeles Times and Frommers.com.

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